Hosptical stretcher with drop end



Aug. 9, i966 P. c. TABBERT y HOSPITAL STRETCHER WITH DROP END -5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1964 rllllQlIlHlllllll INVENTOR. P470/ Cfabe/f BY M AT TOE N EY.

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Aug. 9, 1966 P. c. TABBERT HOSPITAL STRETCHER WITH DROP END Filed May14, 1964 INVENTOR. Pdu/ C, /zbe/ Ai TORN EY.'

wm, Q Vl United States Patent O 3,265,432 HUSPITAL STRETCHER WITH DRG?END Paul C. Tabbert, llridgman, Mich. Filed May 14, 1964, Ser. No.367,384 6 Claims. (Ci. 296-29) This Iinvention relates t-o improvementsin hospital stretcher with drop end. The .principal objects of thisslides on its support so that it will be balanced from end to end whenthe drop section is both down and up so that a patient cannot be loadedonto the stretcher in a position t-o overlbalance `and up-end thestretcher.

Third, to provide a stretcher with .a drop end that is connected to asliding topv and the support for the sliding top so that lowering orraising of the drop end results in corresponding reverse sliding of thet-op to a balanced position on the support in all positions of the dropend.

Fourth, to provide a stretcher having the foregoing characteristicsWhic-h may also be elevated or tilted endwise without interfering withthe drop end structure or its operation.

Fifth, to provide .a stretcher having the foregoing characteristicswhich may be mounted on a wheeled carriage.

Sixth, to provide a wheeled stretcher with a drop end which permits thestretcher to be used for obstetrical work and for moving the patientbetween a labor room, delivery room and a recovery room without movingthe patient from the stretcher.

Other objects and Iadvantages of the invention will be apparent from a`consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings ofwhich there are three sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of thestretcher.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section at the bottom ofthe stretcher with the end in partially lowered position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional View taken along theplane of the line 2 2 in FIG. l.

FIG. 3 yis a fragmentary side elevational view of the top of thestretcher with the drop end in raised position.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of the top of thestretcher.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 5 5 in FIG. 4 showing the hinge of the stretcher top. j

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizont-al cross sectional view through the topsupporting and elevating mechanism taken along `the plane of the brokenline 6 6 in FIG. l.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along `theplane of the line 7 7 in FIGS. l and.3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line y8 8 in FIG. 7.

The stretcher of the invention is designed primarily for obstetrical usebut may be used in other cases. A base consisting of a longitudinalrcenter beam 1 with end cross bars 2 has caster wheels 3 connected tothe ends of the cross bars for mobility. Rigid uprights 4 and 5 projectabove the beam near each end thereof. Upright 4 consists of two spacedplates 6 lthat are vertically slotted as at 7 while upright 5 consistsof similarly spaced but Patented August 9, 12966 ICC unslotted plates 8.Support posts 9 and 10 of box section lit slidably between lthe plates 6and 8 and are laterally retained in upright position therebetween. Thesupport posts support the stretcher top or Itable indicated generally at11 as will `be described in greater detail presently.

The support posts 9 and -10 are adjustably supported lirst by a pin .'12passed through the post 9 and upright links 13 pivoted to the upper endof lpost 10 at 14. A vertical adjusting frame consisting of spacedhorizontal side bars or rails 15 extends along and over. the main basebeam .1 with outwardly olf-set ends `16 at one end embracing orpositioned alongside of the upright plates 6. Offset ends 17 lat theother ends of the adjusting frame rail lap along the sides of plates 8.The pivot and s-upport pin 12 projects through the support post 9 andthe slots 7 and ends 16 of the adjusting frame 15. Depending liftinglinks or bars 18 also pivot on the ends of pin 12. Other dependinglifting links or bars 19 are pivoted to the other end of the liftingframe 15 at `20.

The lifting links 18 land 19 are connected at their lower ends to jacklevers 2'1 Iand 2Q. at 23. The jack levers 21 and 22 have their innerends pivotally connected by a pin 24 that slides vertically betweenguide plates or bars 25. Tension links 26 pivoted -to the beam t1 at 27are pivotally connected to mid-sections of jack levers 21 .and 22 at 28.A hydraulic jack 29 mounted on the beam 1 has apiston rod 30 connectedby a yoke 3l to the jack levers 21. A pump indicated at 32 and operatedby the pedal 33 lifts the piston rod while a valve indicated at 34 andoperated by the foot lever 35 permits draining fluid from the jack tolower the piston rod. Raising the piston rod 30' directly lifts theouter ends of jack levers 21 and links 118 to lift pin 1-2 and supportpost 9. -Interconnected jack levers 22 raise links `19 and the other endof the lifting frame.

The lifting frame 15 carries pivots 36 on which cranks having lower arms37 and upright arms 38 are pivoted. The previously described links 13are connected to the lower arms 37 and raise with the lifting frame.This provides for vertical adjustment of the stretcher top at a constantangle, horizontal or inclined. The top of the stretcher can be tiltedlongitudinally while at any angle by turning the crank 39 and rod 40journaled in the post 9. The rod is threaded at 41 and carries atraveling nut 42 pivoted to the swinging ends of crank arms 38 to swingIthe crank about pivot 36. By this means yarms 37 and links 13 may beraised relative to the lifting frame 15 to an inclined Trendelenbergposition.

The structure thus far described includes many of the details disclosedand claimed more fully in my Patent 3,050,745, issued August 28, 1962,for Hospital Stretcher.

The support posts 9 and 10 are connected by a rigid top bar 43 andinclined brace bar 44. Short cross bars 45 project laterally from thetops of the support posts and have spaced plates 46 connected to eachend. Rollers 47 supported between the plates and below spacers 4S formslide supports for the top of the stretcher indicated generally at 49.

The top 49 has a main frame 50 of outwardly facing channel section withcross bars 51 extending thereacross to support the surface plate 52 ofthe stretcher. Longitudinal slide bars 53 secured to the bottoms of someof the cross bars 51 are supported by the rollers 47. Cross bars closelyadjacent the plates 46 are notched as at 54 (see FIG. 7) to clear theplates as the top slides as will be described.

The right end of the main portion of the stretcher top terminates with across bar S of T shaped cross section (see FIG. 5) and the ends of theborder frame are inclined rearwardly and downwardly as at 56. Shorthinge support plates 57 are welded to the `inside of the border frameand project therefrom to support hinge pivots 58. A stretcher top footextension 59 having a border frame 60 and extension top plate 61 isswingably connected to the pivots with the ends of the frame 60 slantedto mate with the ends 56.

The stretcher top extension 59 is held and controlled in its position,rst by inclined links 61 pivoted to ear 62 on the support post and tothe underside of the foot extension at 63. The main stretcher top hasdownwardly and rearwardly inclined xed pivot support bars 64 secured tothe T-shaped cross member 55 and extending downwardly in spaced clearingrelation to the post 10 and the upright plates 5 as well as the end ofthe support frame 15.- Brace bars 65 welded to the bars 64 and extendingback to the underside of the main stretcher top x the position of pivots66 relative to the main portion of the stretcher top.

Toggle links having lower toggle bars 67 and upper toggle bars 68 arepivotally connected at 69 with the lower bars connected to pivots 66 andthe upper bars pivoted to the underside of the foot extension at 70. Theupper bars 68 have stops 71 that engage the lower bars with the pivots69 :slightly past or below the center line between pivots 66 and 70 whenthe foot extension is fully raised as shown in FIG. 3. This locks thefoot extension in raised position. The over center toggle lock `may bebroken by hand lever 72 pivoted at 73 and engageable with a cross rod 74connecting the upper ends of upper links 68 above the pivots 70.

It will be noted that the toggle 67-68 cannot be straightened and lockedwith the foot extension 59 raised and closed on the main stretcher top49 without the link 61 which is connected to the post 10 pulling boththe foot extension 59 and the main stretcher top 49 back on the sliderollers until the entire stretcher top is centered over the wheels 3 asshown by the dotted lines at 49A and 59A in FIG. l. The same connectionand action of the link 61 causes both stretcher sections to slide to theright as the foot extension is lowered as shown by the full lines inFIG. l. Thus the weight of the patient is moved automatically forwardand the end of the main section 49 is moved over the wheels to the mostconvenient position for the doctor when the foot extension is dropped.The stretcher cannot be left with the foot extension up and extendedlongitudinally in an unbalanced position. This eliminates the danger ofa patient being placed on an unstable stretcher.

Other attachments may be added to the stretcher as desired. For example75 indicates sockets for leg rest posts. Permanent or folding side railsmay be connected 'to the cross bars of the stretcher top as in thepatent identied above.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A mobile hospital stretcher comprising a base mounted on wheels,

uprights mounted at each end of said base each consisting of laterallyspaced support plates,

support posts vertically adjustably mounted on said uprights andlaterally retained therebetween with one post pivotally supported andthe other swingably supported to swing about the pivotal support of theother, cross bars iixedly connected to the tops of said posts and havinglaterally spaced guides connected to each end,

rollers forming top supports mounted between said guides below the upperends ofthe guides,

a stretcher top having a frame with spaced longitudinal slide bars onits underside positioned between said guides and longitudinally slidablysupported by said rollers,

an end cross member on said frame, depending lixed pivot supportsconnected to said end cross memberber and an intermediate undersideportion of said frame and disposed on each side of one of said uprightsunderneath said top,

a stretcher top foot extension having an extension frame with,downwardly and forwardly inclined break joint ends adjacent the ends ofsaid stretcher trarne, means forming a transverse pivot connectionbetween the ends of said stretcher frame and said extension frame alinedwith said break joint ends,

a rst rigid link pivotally connected between said one 4upright and saidextension frame at points spaced from the pivot between said frame andsaid frame extension,

a toggle link having a lower bar pivoted to said fixed pivot supportbelow said rigid link and an upper bar pivoted to said extension framein outwardly spaced relation from said pivot connection between said topframe and said extension frame and the connection between said firstlink and said frame extension,

a pivot connecting the adjacent ends of said bars,

a stop `0n one of said bars limiting movement to a slight over-centerlocking position between pivots on said upright and said frame extensionwith said frame extension in erected continuation of said stretcherframe,

and a release lever pivoted on said frame extension and engageable withthe upper bar of said toggle link to break the over-center position ofthe bars of the toggle link.

2. A mobile hospital stretcher comprising a base mounted on wheels,

uprights mounted at each end of said base each consisting of laterallyspaced support plates,

support posts vertically adjustably mounted on said uprights andlaterally retained therebetween, cross bars xedly connected to the topsof said posts and having late-rally spaced guides connected to each end,

rollers forming top supports mounted between said guides below the upperends of the guides,

a stretcher top having a frame with spaced longitudinal slide bars onits underside positioned between said guides and longitudinally slidablysupported by said rollers,

an end cross member on said frame, depending fixed pivot supportsconnected to said end cross member and an intermediate underside portionof said frame and disposed one each side of one of said uprightsunderneath said top,

a stretcher top foot extension having an extension frame means forming atransverse pivot connection between the ends of said stretcher frame andsaid extension frame,

a rst rigid link pivotally connected between said one upright and saidextension frame at points spaced vfrom the pivot between said frame andsaid frame extension,

a toggle link having a lower bar pivoted to said xed pivot and an upperbar pivoted to said extension frame in outwardly spaced relation fromsaid pivot connection to said top frame .and said extension fra/me,

a pivot connecting the adjacent ends of said bars,

a stop on one of said bars limiting movement to a slight over-centerlocking position between said xed pivots and said -frame extension withsaid `frame extension in erected continuation of said stretcher frame,

and a release lever pivoted on said frame extension and engageable withthe upper -bar of said toggle link to break the over-center position ofthe bars of the toggle link.

3. A mobile hospital stretcher comprising a base mounted on wheels,

uprights mounted at each end of said base,

support 4posts vertically adjustably mounted on said uprights andlaterally retained thereby, cross bars fixedly -connected to the tops ofsaid posts and having laterally spaced guides connected to each end,

slide supports mounted between said guides,

a stretcher top having a frame with spaced longitudinal slide bars onits underside positioned between said guides and long'tudinally slidablysupported by said slide supports,

depending fixed pivot supports connected to said frame and disposed oneach side of one of said uprights underneath said top,

a stretcher top foot extension having an extension frame,

means forming a transverse pivot connection between the ends of saidstretcher frame and said extension frame,

a first rigid link pivotally connected between said one upright and saidextension frame at points spaced from the pivot between said -frame andsaid -frame extension,

a toggle link having a lower bar pivoted to said fixed pivot and anupper bar pivoted to said extension frame in outwardly spaced relationfrom said pivot connection between said top frame and said extensionframe,

a pivot connecting the adjacent ends of said bars,

a stop on one of said 'bars limiting movement to a slight over-centerlocking position between said fixed pivots and said frame extension-with said frame extension in erected continuation of said stretcherframe,

and a release lever pivoted on one of said frames and engageable withthe upper bar of said toggle link to Ebreak the over-center position ofthe bars of the toggle link.

4. A mobile hospital stretcher comprising a base mounted on wheels,

uprights mounted at each end of said base,

support posts tiltably adjustably mounted on said uprights "andlaterally retained thereby, cross bars fixedly connected to the tops ofsaid posts,

slide supports mounted on the ends of cross bars,

a stretcher top having a frame with spaced longitudinal slide bars onits underside slidably supported by said slide supports,

means forming depending fixed pivot supports connected to said frame anddisposed underneath said top,

a stretcher top foot extension -having an extension frame,

means forming a transverse pivot connection between the ends of saidstretcher frame and said extension frame,

a first rigid link pivotally connected between the upright adjacent saidtransverse pivot and said extension frame at points spaced from thepivot between said frame and said frame extension,

a toggle link having a lower bar pivoted to said fixed pivot supportsand an upper bar pivoted to said extension frame in outwardly spacedrelation from said pivot connection between said top frame and saidextension frame,

a pivot connecting the adjacent ends of said bars,

a stop on one of said bars limiting movement of the bars, to a slightover-center locking position between pivots on said fixed pivot supportsand said frame extension with said frame extension in erectedcontinuation of said stretcher frame,

and a release member mounted on one of said frame members and engageablewith one bar of said toggle link to break the over-center positionl ofthe bars ofthe toggle link. 5. A mobile hospital stretcher comprising abase mounted on wheels,

uprights mounted at each end of said b-ase each consisting of laterallyspaced support plates,

support posts vertically adjustably mounted on said uprights andlaterally retained therebetween with one post pivotally supported andthe other swingably supported to swing about the pivotal support of theother,

cross 'bars xedly connected to the tops of said posts and having slidesupports connected to each end,

a stretcher top having aframe with spaced longitudinal slide bars on itsunderside slidably supported by said slide supports,

means forming a depending fixed pivot support connected to said frameand disposed on one side of one of said uprights underneath said top,

a stretcher top foot extension having an extension frame with downwardlyand forwardly inclined break joint ends adjacent the ends of the saidstretcher frame,

means forming a transverse pivot connection between the ends of saidstretcher frame and said extension frame, v

a first rigid link pivotally connected between said one upright and saidextension frame at points spaced from the pivot between said frame andsaid frame extension,

a toggle link having a lower bar pivoted to said fixed pivot supportbelow said rigid link and an upper bar pivoted to said extension framein outwardly spaced relation from said pivot connection between said topframe and said extension frame and the connection between said firstlink and said frame extension,

a pivot connecting the adjacent ends of said bars,

a stop on one of said bars limiting movement to a slight over-centerlocking position between pivots on said fixed pivot support `and saidframe extension with said frame extension in erected continuation ofsaid stretcher frame,

and a release means mounted on one of said frame members engageable withthe upper bar of said toggle link to break the over-center position ofthe bars of the toggle link.

6. A mobile hospital stretcher comprising a |base mounted on wheels,

uprights mounted at each end of said base,

support posts vertically ladjustably mounted on said uprights andlaterally retained thereby,

cross bars fixedly connected to the tops of said posts and having slidesupports connected to each end,

a stretcher top having a frame with spaced longitudinal slide bars onits underside slidably supported by said slide supports,

means forming a depending fixed pivot support connected to said frameand disposed on one side of one of said uprights underneath said top,

a stretcher top foot extension having an extension frame with downwardlyand forwardly inclined break joint ends adjacent the ends of saidstretcher frame,

means forming a transverse pivot connection between the ends of saidstretcher frame and said extension frame,

a first rigid link pivotally connected between said one upright and saidextension frame at points spaced from the pivot between said frame andsaid frame extension,

a toggle link having a lower bar pivoted to said fixed pivot supportbelow said rigid link and an upper bar pivoted to said extension framein outwardly spaced relation from said pivot connection between said topframe and said extension frame,

a pivot connecting the adjacent ends of said bars,

a stop on one of said bars limiting movement to a slight over-centerlocking position between pivots on said xed pivot support and said frameextension with said frame extension in erected lcontinuation of saidstretcher frame,

and a release means `mounted on one of said frame members engagable withsaid toggle link to break the over-center position of the bars of thetoggle link.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 661,232 11/1900Shipley 269-324 1,530,719 3/1925 Harris 269-324 2,841,438 7/1958 Wen2964-20 3,026,542 3/1962 Tabbert 5 86 A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner.

10 P. GOODMAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A MOBILE HOSPITAL STRETCHER COMPRISING A BASE MOUNTED ON WHEELS,UPRIGHTS MOUNTED AT EACH END OF SAID BASE EACH CONSISTING OF LATERALLYSPACED SUPPORT PLATES, SUPPORT PORTS VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ONSAID UPRIGHTS AND LATERALLY RETAINED THEREBETWEEN WITH ONE POSTPIVOTALLY SUPPORTED AND THE OTHER SWINGABLY SUPPORTED TO SWING ABOUT THEPIVOTAL SUPPORT OF THE OTHER, CROSS BARS FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO THE TTOPSOF SAID POSTS AND HAVING LATERALLY SPACED GUIDES CONNECTED TO EACH END,ROLLERS FORMINGG TOP SUPPORTS MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID GUIDES BELOW THEUPPER ENDS OF THE GUIDES, A STRETCHER TOP HAVING A FRAME WITTH SPACEDLONGITUDINAL SLIDE BARS ON ITS UNDERSIDE POSITIONED BETWEENN SAID GUIDESAND LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID ROLLERS; AND END CROSSMEMBER ON SAID FRAME, DEPENDING FIXED PIVOT SUPPORTS CONNECTED TO SAIDEND CROSS MEMBERBER AND AN INTERMEDIATE UNDERSIDE PORTION OF SAID FRAMEAND DISPOSED ON EACH SIDE OF ONE OF SAID UPRIGHTS UNDERNEATH SAID TOP, ASTRETCHER TOP FOOT EXTENSION HAVING AN EXTENSION FRAME WITH DOWNWARDLYAND FORWARDLY INCLINED BREAK JOINT ENDS ADJACENT THE ENDS OF SAIDSTRETCHER FRAME, MEANS FORMING A TRANSVERSE PIVOT CONNECTION BETWEEN THEENDS OF SAID STRETCHER FRAME AND SAID EXTENSION FRAME ALIGNED WITH SAIDBRAKE JOINT ENDS, A FIRST RIGID LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAIDONE UPRIGHT AND SAID EXTENSION FRAME AT POINTS SPACED FROM THE PIVOTBETWEEN SAID FRAME AND SAID FRAME EXTENSION, A TOGGLE LINK HAVING ALOWER BAR PIVOTED TO SAID FIXED PIVOT SUPPORT BELOW SAID RIGID LINK ANDAN UPPER BAR PIVOTED TO SAID EXTENSION FRAME IN OUTWARDLY SPACEDRELATION FROM SAID PIVOT CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID TOP FRAME AND SAIDEXTENSION FRAME AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID FIRST LINK AND SAIDFRAME EXTENSION, A PIVOT CONNECTING THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID BARS, ASTOP ON ONE OF SAID BARS LIMITING MOVEMENT TO A SLIGHT OVER-CENTERLOCKING POSITION BETWEEN PIVOTS ON SAID UPRIGHT AND SAID FRAME EXTENSIONWITH SAID FRAME EXTENSION IN ERECTED COMMUNICATION OF SAID STRETCHERFRAME, AND A RELEASE LEVER PIVOTED ON SAID FRAME EXTENSION ANDENGAGEABLE WITH THE UPPER BAR OF SAID TOGGLE LINK TO BREAK THEOVER-CENTER POSITION OF THE BARS OF THE TOGGLE LINK.